Improvement in hemmers for sewing-machines



JOHN V. D. ELDREDGE, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN HEMMERS FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of 'Letters Patent No. 107,889, dated October 4, 1870.

To whom it may concern.-

`Be it known that I, JOHN V. D. ELDREDGE, of Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Hemmers for Sew-ing -Machines; andI do declare that the following is a true and accurate description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, and being a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved hem mer, with a portion of the side spring broken away to 'show the method of attaching and the operation of my pressure-spring. Fig` 2 is a plan ofthe hemmer, showing it adjusted for turning a straight hem. Fig. 3 is the same adjusted for hemming on a curve.

Like letters indicate like parts in each iigure.

The nature of this invention relates to an improvement in the construction of hemmers for sewing-machines.

It consists in the application, toa hemmer hinged to the forward end of thepressure-foot, of a spring, in the recess in which the hem is turned in the fabric, arranged so as to exert a slight pressure on the upper side of the fold in the fabric just before it reaches the needle, whereby the thinnest goods may be hemmed,

' as well as the heavier grades, without the irregularities which result from the use of the ordinaryhemmers in working verylight goods;

and by changing the direction of the hemmer with relationto the pressure-foot the operator is enabled to hem curved, bias, or circular patterns of goods, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing, A represents the pressurefoot, to which is hinged a hemmer, B, of the construction described in my application for Letters Fatent dated January 18, 1870, which application was allowed March 9, 1870, except with avery important addition in the form of the spring a, shown in Fig.r l of the accompanying drawing, by reference to which it will be seen that the tongue b and curved spring c are those in common use forturning the hein,

and that d is the side spring described and lettered Ein said application, although the spring a of the present application is equally All hemmers must have the Vhem-recess of sufficient height or area in cross-section to receive and permit thepassage of the roll formed in the edge of the thickest fabrics which are hemmed in them. Consequently, when very light and thin goods are hemmed, the fold or roll turned by the tongue b and curved spring c in the edge thereof' is not compressed in the shape or form made by the said devices, and the tendency of the hem is to Waver or unroll before it reaches the needle.

The spring a is attached to the upper part, and extends downward as it approaches the ends ofthe tongue b and spring c, forming a throat, out of which the fabric' passes to the needle with a perfect hem folded in its edge, due to the light pressure exerted by the free end of the spring a on the upper surface of the fold or roll.

The spring a yields readily when a crossseam in the fold passes through the hemmer,

removing the cause of a very frequent annoyVY ance in hemmers of ordinary construction, re-

sulting from the choking or clogging of the fabric therein when a seam is to be passed through the device.

As shown, the hemmer-body is secured to the pressure-foot, which has an elastic plate, e, projecting over the top of the hemmer, carrying a stud, e', on its under side, which stud engages with any of a series of radial holes in the top of the hemmer, to secure it in any desired lateral adjustment, so that curved or bias goods may be hemmed therewith.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters PatentlThe hemmer B, hinged to the pressure-foot, so as to have lateral adjustment, and provided with the spring a, the tongue b, the spring c, the elastic holdin g-plate e, and the stud e', when the several parts are constructed and arranged as described and shown, and as and for the purposes set forth.

. JOHN V. D. ELDREDGE. Witnesses:

FREDERICK EBERTS, SAM. J. SPRAY. 

